Color me surprised because I didn't see any of these coming:1. Morgana gathering her wits enough to Disapparate back home.2. Grindling being in love with Narcissa instead of Charis.3. Grindling and Narcissa kissing.4. Grindling agreeing to help Cissy by wooing Morgana.5. Narcissa kissing him again.

You two know how to throw a spanner in the works.  Fooled me good.  Everything I thought I "knew" just go blow to hell.  LOL!***

Poor, poor Morgana.  I felt so sorry for her.  She gets so worked up about what she sees as her own shortcomings that she can't see that she is being used by everyone else except Charis.  Yes, even Severus–not that he has much say in what "greater good" plans Albus Dumbledore has or the "world domination" plans Lord Voldemort has.  This is NOT a good place to be.  I wonder what Dumbledore will say and do when she tells him that she "wants out" of this quagmire she finds herself in?***

Ahhhhh... I see Albus was too tired to take Morgana's call.  ***

And then there's Grimmauld Place.  1. Severus got a big surprise when he ran into Morgana, and she told him about her "mission" for Dumbledore, and what Narcissa wanted her to do with Grindling.2. He ain't happy, she aint' happy, and Narcissa is planning how to salvage her idea of a Pureblood "match made in heaven."3 Morgana probably won't tell Dumbles to take a hike now.

Thanks for this fabulous update!  Now take care of RL and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!Beth

Hey, ladies! Just needed to leave a few more thoughts on this wonderful development of relationships revealed here; again, my suspicions are up and about regarding Mr Grindling - besides his and Narcissa's past,  there is something quite self-serving simmering underneath his surface - another trait Cissy finds attractive in her blond wizards? But my gut tells me this doesn't bode well for Morgana or poor Charis *sigh*... Hope  that a possessive & protective Sev gets wind of this and soon! Before either of the girls gets damaged further... Can't wait for more!

Before starting this chapter, I reread the previous one and realized I had missed that little detail about the pain in Grindling's left arm that woke him up.  He must have the mark of a Death Eater.  Hummmmm....I almost fell out of my chair when I realized that Narcissa had invited him to "dinner" to meet Morgana.  This cannot end well.  When the gu was served, I knew that he and Morgana were being manipulated again, and I can only hope that both of them can come to their senses before this gets completely out of hand.  All I can think of is that Charis, Morgana, Grindling, and Narcissa are standing on the edge of a precipice... and it's a long way down.  Severus is not going to be happy—with Charis' and Grindling's interest in each other, or Morgana's and Grindling's "relationship."  Thanks for another twisty chapter!  I can't wait to see where you take this story.Beth

Grindling's behavior is quite confusing. I want to buy the that he's the sweet guy Charice thinks he is but I'm concerned. I had thought Charice was destined for Snape but now wonder if Morgana is instead. Loved your description of the date. It sounded like so much fun. Still loving this story. Can't wait to see what happens next.

OMG.  What are you two ladies up to now?  All along I got this feeling that Grindling was going to turn out to be guy, and then he is in this chapter, and he's tender and loving, gentle and a gentleman.  You're up to something; I just know it.You're making me wonder if Severus and Charis will end up together after all.  In the previous chapter we read that Rosmerta thought that Snape deserved to be loved. She’d love him, if he would let her. But he never would, she knew that very well.Well now, it looks like a lot of the things I was fairly sure of may not be such sure bets.    Thank you for such a wonderful update!Beth

OMG.  I have a bad feeling for everyone mentioned in this chapter, but you ladies are such masters of the art of subterfuge and misdirection that I don't trust my intuition.  I can't see how Morgana kept from running away from Narcissa's tea and conversation.  Certainly Narcissa was the perfect hostess, but when she suggested that she introduce her to upper echelons of wizarding society, all I could think was "Dumbledore be damned.  Run like hell, Morgana!"These upper echelons are sure to be deeply involved in the Death Eaters and supporters of the Dark Lord.  *shivers*  Surely she will be inundated with memories of Lucius.  How will she avoid giving herself away?  No good can come of this for Morgana, and Severus will have his hands full protecting her from all she will encounter.Then there's Charis and Grindling.  I must admit I could find nothing amiss in his behavior at the restaurant.  Indeed, he was everything a girl could wish for... and that's the problem... he was too perfect.I just have a bad feeling about all of this...  Know what I mean?Oh yeah, this is another great chapter.  You two really keep me on my toes!  Thanks.Beth

Why do I get the distinct impression that Grindling Gibbons is up to no good?  I'll be very interested to see what happens next Tuesday at the Leaky Cauldron... I'm even more interested to find out what Morgana discovers about the Gibbons family.  Could Grindling be a closet Death Eater?  Stranger things have happened?I hope Severus is able to get a good night's sleep– I think he needs it.  And I'm off to the next chapter!!!Beth

Grindling seems to be more mysterious than he gives himself credit for. Charice better be careful. Between "his girls". And Narcissa poor Severus isn't going to get any peace of mind. Thank you.

Wow. Someone just had the wank of a lifetime! I felt sorry for our dear Potions Master, for about ten seconds, when it looked like he wasn't going to get any but I withdraw my pity.Love to you for keeping me glued to my computer!

a good thing Morgana has Charis as a friend, she is in deep trouble that one. Will Severus take action to try to keep Charis for himself ? looking forward to updates

I would have liked to be present at that dinner, lambstew and cake and then a dressing down of Moody, I like him a lot but sometimes he is too much.

she know he is a manipulator, but she can't stop longing for him and now they both are in bit troubles, if rescued a big scolding from Madeye is awaiting

I wish Morgana would stop visiting Knocturn Alley in the night, that could lead to severe problems. So now both Severus' girls have joined, it will be a stressfull time for him, poor sod

OMG!  Did Morgana hear Severus talking to Charis?  Did she know it was Severus?  Would Morgana have realized that he was talking to Charis instead of her?  She would unless she was still lost in sleep when Severus called Miss Byrne by name.  If the Sectus that he cast on his mirror only blocked the visual connection between his mirror and Morgana's, perhaps she could still hear him talking to Charis.  After all, when orgasm over took Charis he heard more than one voice call his name:  There were different voices, he was sure. Two at least. And they were both screaming his name.If that is the case what will Morgana make of what Severus told her friend:  ‘You should not be dreaming of throwaway nobodies, Miss Byrne,’ Snape went on, his voice still not more than a whisper. ‘You should be dreaming of real men, real men who know what a luscious woman like you needs. Real men who know how to fuck.’Geez!  I have a ton of questions?  When Severus thought of red hair and green eyes, was he thinking of Morgana or Lily?  Arrrgghh.  I can't remember the hair and eye color of Charis and Morgana... Wow.  Just wow.  You ladies have certainly set the stage for all kinds of twists and turns to take place.  One of the best things about your writing is that you lay a foundation that invites the reader to use their imagination.  I like trying to "predict the future" and then reading on to see how close I got.  Well done!Beth

I wish I had hollow legs . glad to meet Tonks again, allways loved her. As Braye27 said there are so many things that can go wrong, well we will find out eventually

one can't help feeling sorry for both Narcissa and Morgana, a lot of unhappines in the future, hopefully there will be some glad times too

I think the icy facade Morgana maintains to keep people at arm's length is finally becoming to difficult for her.  She realizes that without someone else to confide in, she herself will crumble, so better to let her walls down and see her friend. "... Snape’s eyes widened as he was hit by the thought of his girls having been lovers before."  There is precedent for the girls having been lovers before.  On two different occasions :  once in the Room of Requirement when they were still students at Hogwarts, and another time in Morgana's room at Madam Nutkins when the Death Eaters attacked Fortescue's... or has my memory started combining things that happened here in Shooting Stars and that earlier time back in Star Sisters when they met in the Room of Requirment  I could be mad as a hatter on that point, so if I am, I will depend on you to set me straight.I am so look forward to what will happen next.  Will Severus be so intent on what his girls are doing when the mirror's connecntion has been lift open that he might forget to cast the Mulliato?Certainly finding out about Grindling Gibbons' invitation to Charis to go out with him for drinks (wearing her gorgeous, new blue knickers which will not be seen by anyone) got Severus' blood going. Whadda ya wanna bet Snape finds out where Grindling is taking Charis and just happens to be there, too?  Thank you again ladies for a wonderful chapter in which we see the effects of Severus protecting his girls, standing up to Mad-Eye on Morgana's behalf, and enjoying Charis' soft feminine curves, and remembering the time the two of them were together in love's penultimate embrace.Hugs, Beth

"Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix, Morgana Belakane.'Well he did it!  Albus was able to word his plans in such a way that Morgana couldn't not say yes.  OMG! Severus is going to have a cow!At the end of the last chapter Severus had sworn that he would watch over his girls 'until the day he had atoned.'  I imagine he will be getting plenty of time to watch over Morgana, but I think that her spying for the Order will make his job of taking care of them sooooo much harder.  Will Charis be invited to join the Order, too?  Of course, she will!!!  (What a dumb question...)  How will she respond and what will her role be?  The girls' lives will be getting much more difficult, and Severus' will be damned near intolerable.Good job, ladies.  This just keeps getting better and better!Beth

Iám glad you picked up the story.

I can't believe I didn't see this chapter until tonight when he next one posted!  Where have I been?  Obviously wherever I was, I wasn't paying attention.  I just knew that Severus would have gone to the corner of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley to check up on his girls... but since he knew what was happening at Fortescue's (and why), I guess he really didn't need to once he saw that Morgana was sitting with Charis on the bed.  I don't know how all this is going to shake out for Severus or his girls, but I do get a sense that some hearts may be broken.  I have to go check out the next chapter to see if there are any hints.  *grins*Beth

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?  Severus' mirrors are working beautifully.  Perhaps too beautifully.  Being able to eavesdrop on Charis and Morgana has given him more than a few things to think about. 

I found it very interesting that of all the "girly" potions and creams Charis had bought that the mauve lotion smelled like Honeyduke's chocolate and the shampoo she used had the fragrance of roses... like Morgana's Amortentia... all that was missing was a hint of peppermint... and perhaps that was in the potion from the cream colored bottle that Morgana was massaging into Charis' aching shoulders.

Now it seems that all three participants– Charis, Morgana, and Severus –have become a bit confused.  Severus was unable to look away from his mirror at the slowly-becoming-erotic-scene he saw reflected in it.  What was this going on between "his girls?"  Was Morgana thinking about her Amortentia as she breathed softly on Charis' neck?  Was Charis enjoying her friend's massage more than he would have ever supposed?  Where had this come from and where was it leading?  There was a certain look in Morgana's blue eyes that he didn't care for.  Could that be because she dared to make advances toward the young woman to whom Severus was unfailingly drawn?

For her part, I think Morgana was unsure what she was doing and why.  It was as if she were reacting to the fragrances she smelled and reacted to the thoughts her Amortentia evoked.  And Charis was taken by surprise at Morgana's actions as she felt her friend's breath on her skin. 

I suppose none of the three will know for a while just what is going on because of the appearance outside Morgana's window.  What will the girls do next?  I hope they'll stay put and out of harm's way.  Most of all, what will Severus do?  "His girls" are very close to Fortescue's and the Death Eater attack taking place.  Will he be able to keep himself away from Morgana's room?  He will have a real battle with himself to stay away, and I'm betting that he will have to go to where they are to make sure they are all right.

I love this story!  Can you tell? 

Beth

Rudolphus the red nosed reindeer - very funny! I wonder if Snape is going to come make sure they are protected. I'd love to see all 3 back together again. Another great installment.

Dum dadum dum duuuuummmm!  Little did she know then that her job at the Ministry would be more involved in the resistance than she could possibly imagine. Do I hear the pitter patter of little Dumbledore feet?  Yes, I think I do.  Will the Headmaster give Charis the same "opportunity" to work with Professor Snape?  Yes, I think he will.  While I'm glad that Charis and Morgana will be able to see Severus more than they might have, I think a whole can of worms could be on the verge of being opened because they aren't adept at Occlumancy like Severus is.  But what could Dumbledore do about their relationship with Severus?  Realistically, the Headmaster needs them too much to make a big stink about it.  Right?  Right?It was wonderful that the girls got to spend the afternoon together and that they can do more catching up more at Morgana's tonight.  Before I wrap up these comments, I have to tell you that when I read Charis' experience in the "public" loo, I was torn between laughing my arse off and being completely creeped out.  I don't know if I would have had the guts she did to even put the toe of my shoe into that bog water the way she did.  *shivers*  And she was definitely more courageous than I would have been to have pulled the flush.  This was very well written, ladies.  Kudos!Another great chapter!Beth

Dumbledore is very crafty, isn't he?  He gets a new spy, and Morgana gets an owl to call her own and tea with the Headmaster... er, Albus.I think the draw of Dumbledore's offer is two fold:  (1) to be a member of the Order and work to bring down the Dark, and (2) to hopefully work with Severus Snape.  Yes, I can't think of a more enticing offer for Morgana than to include the "opportunity" to work with her former Head of House.  Does Dumbledore know the totality of Snape's relationship with either Morgana or Charis?Things were already interesting, but I think they just got a lot interestinger.  Awesome chapter, ladies!Beth

Sorry I hadn’t read your new story, but I haven’t been around for a long time. I just decided to check if you had already posted something. Great first chapter for this sequel! I wonder how you do it. Does one of you write Charis and the other one Morgana? I loved “But it didn’t mean that Snape had to like it, even if he’d fantasised many times about blowing the meddling old man to smithereens”. It looks like it will be tough times for Morgana again. I can’t remember, but didn’t Narcissa ever found she was Lucius lover? I doubt she’d like it.